Taaj Bakari

Photo by: SFA Athletics

Class:
Junior
Ht./Wt.:
6-2 / 335
Position:
DT
Hometown:
Mansfield, Texas
High School:
Mansfield Legacy
Last College:
Oklahoma State

2018 (Junior): Appeared in all 10 games at defensive tackle in his first season donning the Purple and White … Registered 12 tackles, including seven unassisted … Tied for the fifth-most tackles for loss (3.5) among all Lumberjack defenders and had one sack … Had three multi-tackle games and made at least three tackles on two separate occasions … Picked up his first tackle in a SFA uniform during the 24-21 home win over Abilene Christian (Sept. 22) … Recorded a career-high four tackles, three of which were solo stops, and had a two-yard tackle for loss at 11th-ranked McNeese (Sept. 29) … Claimed a pair of tackles, including a four-yard sack in the fourth quarter, in the 93rd Battle of the Piney Woods inside NRG Stadium in Houston against No. 16 Sam Houston State (Oct. 6) … Posted a tackle for loss in the home bout with No. 16 Central Arkansas (Oct. 13) … Made three tackles with a half tackle for loss in the home affair with Lamar (Oct. 27).

Prior to SFA: Spent three seasons at Big 12 Conference mainstay Oklahoma State … Appeared in 12 total games, including 11 as a sophomore in 2017 … Played in two FBS bowl games, Oklahoma State's 38-8 rout of 11th-ranked Colorado in the 2016 Alamo Bowl and the Cowboys' 30-21 win over No. 22 Virginia Tech in the 2017 Camping World Bowl … Registered five solo tackles, including three tackles for a loss of nine yards, during the 2017 season … Had a fumble recovery in the 50-39 victory over 22nd-ranked West Virginia … As a redshirt freshman assisted on a tackle for loss late in Oklahoma’s 2016 Alamo Bowl triumph … Utilized his redshirt year as a true freshman in 2015 … Played for head coach Chris Melson at Mansfield Legacy High School … Finished his final season with 65 total tackles, including 45 solo stops, five sacks, six tackles for loss and two forced fumbles … As a junior, totaled 44 total tackles, 22 solo stops, nine tackles for loss, six sacks, and two forced fumbles … A first-team all-district selection and the outstanding defensive lineman of the year in both 2013 and 2014 … Named defensive MVP and team MVP at Mansfield Legacy … An academic all-district selection and served on the student council … Named “Man of Tomorrow” at Mansfield Legacy … Born Aug. 29, 1997, in Irving, Texas … Son of Tanya and Aalim Bakari … Majoring in management information systems.